Trump Backs Off Plan to Host G-7 at Doral Resort

President Trump reversed course on his decision to host next year’s G-7 summit at the Trump National Doral Miami resort in Florida.

The announcement came late Saturday on Twitter, with the president citing “Irrational Hostility” from Democrats and from the media rather than legitimate concerns about abuse of power. In a trio of tweets — interrupted by a video clip of Fox News’ Justice with Judge Jeanine — Trump insisted his initial plan would have been “very good for our Country.”

…..its own 50 to 70 unit building. Would set up better than other alternatives. I announced that I would be willing to do it at NO PROFIT or, if legally permissible, at ZERO COST to the USA. But, as usual, the Hostile Media & their Democrat Partners went CRAZY!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2019

….Therefore, based on both Media & Democrat Crazed and Irrational Hostility, we will no longer consider Trump National Doral, Miami, as the Host Site for the G-7 in 2020. We will begin the search for another site, including the possibility of Camp David, immediately. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2019

Following acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney’s announcement on Thursday of the president’s own financially-struggling property as the best option to host such an esteemed gathering of world leaders, the White House faced immense criticism from Democrats, former government officials, and even some Republicans in Congress. Observers hinted the latter may have triggered the president to look elsewhere.

“My sense is that he backed down here only because of cracks in Republican support that caused him to fear a much larger rebellion,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) commented. Blumenthal, along with more than 200 other Democrats, is suing the president for allegedly violating the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause which bans federal officials from accepting foreign payments.

According to the White House, 11 other sites were listed as potential locations, although Trump suggested Camp David as another possibility. President Barack Obama held the G-7 there in 2012, the most recent time it took place in the U.S.